Show Problems That Must Be e Solved P PRESIDENT RESIDENT ROOSEVELT has made an urgent urgent urgent ur- ur for tax legislation legislation legislation legis legis- gent appeal to congress new lation as an inflation deterrent At the same time in a significant statement to a Washington Washing Washing- ton conference of steel executives and government government government govern govern- ment officials he said we must set aside any individualistic interest which interferes in the slightest degree with steel production This statement following on the heels of the national national national na na- na- na defense mediation boards board's rejection of the closed shop for captive coal mines was interpreted as a warning to John L. L Lewis that interruption of steel production by a astrike astrike astrike strike in the coal mines would not be tol tol- tol- tol It seems that at last the administration Is prepared to move toward the solution of the two biggest problems at present facing this nation nation inflation inflation and strikes So far very little has been done to control h either of these critical situations threatening the national welfare Rather than fewer strikes strike's s hampering defense defense defense de de- de- de production in recent weeks there have been more The National Association of Manufacturers has just released figures showing that in the week ending November 7 almost a million man-hours man of vital defense production was lost due to work stoppages in 25 separate cases The nation faces strikes or the threat of strikes es in s several veral key points notably in naval construction projects in inthe inthe inthe the steel industry and on the r railroads Something must be done to prevent this constant interference with our vital defense production On the inflation on front there has been little little little lit lit- tle more than congressional debate and official official official cial appeals Meanwhile prices continue their steady rise and while the demand for consumer consumer consumer con con- sumer goods increases the supply decreases adding fuel to the inflation flames It is obvious obvious obvious ous that heavier taxes alone will not keep prices under control nor will talk and appeals appeals appeals ap ap- ap- ap peals nor ce ceilings lings on the prices of a few basic commodities Control of inflation must go further than that So long as the prices of farm products and wages are left completely completely completely com com- uncontrolled it is economically impossible impossible impossible sible to hold other prices under control v Something must be done to halt the mountings mounting price spiral and and save the nation and the people from an inflation which would not only raise havoc with our defense program program program pro pro- gram and with the present welfare of the people but would invite another devastating devastating devast ting t- t ing postwar collapse Strikes and inflation These are the two biggest problems facing the nation today Their solution is vital to our national security security ity and our future welfare It is the paramount paramount paramount para para- mount task of the administration on today to solve them i Ao |